There are several practices present in New York City (which may or may not be present in other cities on the East Coast) that I rarely (if ever) witnessed while living on the West Coast.

>> The diner. There aren’t strict “diners” on the West Coast and, if one does refer to a diner, that is usually a reference to a place that primarily serves hamburgers. There are few restaurants that are open for 24 hours on the West Coast; I can only name the occasional Denny’s or IHOP. Furthermore, these diners here in New York City have overwhelming menus. A friend (originally from Philadelphia) and I ate at a restaurant (it’s not actually a diner) yesterday that features a 17 page menu, where the items are listed single spaced with sparse margins in 10-point font. We both ended up getting burgers. There was just too much choice.

>> Cole slaw and pickles. On the West Coast, pickles usually accompany the meal as a side. Cole slaw is presented as a choice (the other choices are usually pasta salad or French fries). In New York City, these two items seem to serve as appetizers. Are these acidic dishes meant to whet the appetite? Do people here just like cabbage?

>> Seltzer water. In all the years I lived on the West Coast, I never had a meal with anyone who ordered seltzer water with their meal. Everyone just drinks plain water there. Here, most people forego the plain water and ask for seltzer. What exactly is the appeal of cabbage and carbonated water?

>> The general lack of automobile crashes. Of course they happen here, but most people break their bones in other fashions. On the West Coast, I frequently received consults for agitated patients who sustained fractures as a result of a “high speed motor collision”. One of the nurses told me that the orthopedic surgeons training in New York City are sometimes sent to other states so they can gain experience managing fractures from motor vehicle crashes, since people don’t drive fast enough in New York City for those events to happen. That’s oddly disturbing and comforting at the same time.

>> Voting booths with the red handle. Okay, so I haven’t voted yet, but I’ve heard about these booths with the curtains and the giant red handle. When I’ve voted in person on the West Coast, the voter volunteer handed me a scantron sheet, a number 2 pencil, and then sent me into a booth. In Seattle, everyone receives absentee ballots that also request that the voter “fill in the bubble next to the desired candidate” (or write in your own).

As an aside, I’ve never contacted the elections board of the previous city I’ve lived in after I’ve moved. I’m hoping that my registration has moved with me… otherwise, people might interpret my actions as voting fraud. (Because, you know, I plan to vote in New York City, then hop on a plane and fly to Seattle and vote there, then fly to California and vote in the three cities there. Don’t tell anyone.)

>> The volume of taxis. I don’t need to elaborate on this one.

>> Laundry practices. I am sure that there are laundromats on the West Coast that offer to wash, dry, and then fold your laundry and charge a fee that is based on the weight of laundry. Having always done my own laundry, I’ve never looked for these businesses. I live in a building where laundry machines are available and, as a creature of habit, I still wash and dry my own laundry. I wouldn’t want anyone else to do my laundry. I’m sure that statement gives insight about my personality structure.

>> The large numbers of Jewish people. The Jewish New Year recently came and went… and the volume of traffic in the city on the first day of Rosh Hashanah was significantly lower than usual. It usually takes me about forty minutes to get to work from door to door; my commute was clipped ten minutes short on the Jewish New Year. An Irish Catholic joked with me, “Use the Jewish holidays to get stuff done. That’s also the day to go see a movie or something.”

>> The prevalence of psychiatry. A lot of people here see psychiatrists… and almost every psychiatrist I have met (ever superficially) has a private practice. I find it a little weird.

>> The need for snow boots. People need shoes to walk around in the snow? Really? And I’ll need to keep a pair of dress shoes at work during the winter months? And people get so tired of the cold by the end of January and February that fashion goes out of the window by then?

I got myself a pair of snow boots for $15 at Goodwill.

>> The rampant opportunities to “get all up into your business”. Like the couple that is currently arguing outside of my apartment. They’ve argued in the hallway before. She’s usually upset and demanding him to leave; he’s usually speaking quietly and insisting that he go upstairs with her. Goodness.

I am more settled in (hence the return of the fully formed sentences), but I still feel like a tourist.